SpaceX 的 Starship 完成第四次试飞

SpaceX’s Starship, the most powerful launch vehicle ever built, lifted off for its fourth flight test on Thursday. The launch occurred from SpaceX’s private Starbase facility in Boca Chica, Texas, at 7:50 a.m. CT (8:50 a.m. ET). Of the rocket’s 33 engines, 32 successfully ignited during the launch, according to the SpaceX broadcast.

SpaceX 的 Starship 是有史以来最强大的运载火箭，于周四升空进行第四次飞行测试。此次发射于美国中部时间上午 7:50（美国东部时间上午 8:50）从 SpaceX 位于德克萨斯州博卡奇卡的私人 Starbase 设施进行。据 SpaceX 广播称，火箭的 33 个发动机中，有 32 个在发射过程中成功点火。

A significant achievement of the flight test was the successful execution of a landing burn and soft splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico by the Super Heavy booster, approximately eight minutes after launch. Meanwhile, the Starship capsule achieved orbital insertion. Initially, the launch was expected to occur at 7:20 a.m. CT (8:20 a.m. ET), but a ground-side issue delayed the countdown.

飞行测试的一项重大成就是，在发射后大约八分钟，超重型助推器在墨西哥湾成功着陆燃烧和软溅落。与此同时，星舰太空舱实现入轨。最初，发射预计于中部时间上午 7:20（东部时间上午 8:20）进行，但地面问题推迟了倒计时。

The flight test comes two days after the Federal Aviation Administration, which licenses commercial rocket launches, gave SpaceX its approval. Each of Starship’s test flights builds on lessons learned and milestones achieved during previous flights. SpaceX aims to demonstrate the ability to return and reuse the Starship and Super Heavy booster.

此次飞行测试是在获得商业火箭发射许可的联邦航空管理局批准 SpaceX 两天后进行的。 Starship 的每次测试飞行都建立在之前飞行中吸取的经验教训和实现的里程碑的基础上。 SpaceX 的目标是展示返回和重复使用星舰和超重型助推器的能力。

The primary objectives included executing a landing burn and a controlled entry of Starship. The Starship team incorporated software and hardware upgrades into the launch system, learning from the third flight.

主要目标包括执行着陆燃烧和星舰受控进入。 Starship 团队借鉴第三次飞行的经验，将软件和硬件升级融入到发射系统中。

SpaceX’s approach to rocket development is geared towards speed, using an engineering method called “rapid spiral development.” This involves building prototypes quickly and testing them rigorously, even if it means experiencing fiery mishaps early on. The first two attempts to get Starship to orbital speeds in 2023 ended in explosions, but these failures provided valuable insights. The nearly hour-long third test flight in March achieved several milestones before breaking apart after reentry.

SpaceX 的火箭开发方法注重速度，采用一种称为“快速螺旋开发”的工程方法。这涉及快速构建原型并严格测试它们，即使这意味着早期会经历严重的事故。 2023 年将星舰提升至轨道速度的前两次尝试均以爆炸告终，但这些失败提供了宝贵的见解。三月份近一个小时的第三次试飞在重返大气层后解体之前实现了几个里程碑。

The flight reached speeds close to orbital requirements but did not aim to enter orbit. For Thursday’s flight, SpaceX implemented upgrades and additional thrusters to prevent issues experienced during the third flight. SpaceX’s CEO Elon Musk has repeatedly emphasized Starship’s central role in the company’s mission to put humans on Mars.

这次飞行达到了接近轨道要求的速度，但并不打算进入轨道。对于周四的飞行，SpaceX 实施了升级和额外的推进器，以防止第三次飞行中出现问题。 SpaceX 首席执行官埃隆·马斯克 (Elon Musk) 多次强调 Starship 在该公司将人类送上火星的使命中的核心作用。

NASA has selected the Starship spacecraft for a key role in its Artemis program to return humans to the moon. Milestones such as the propellant transfer are critical for Starship’s future missions. High-profile missions will require the spacecraft to refuel in orbit before proceeding to destinations like the moon and Mars.

美国国家航空航天局 (NASA) 选择星际飞船在其阿耳忒弥斯计划中发挥关键作用，以将人类送回月球。推进剂转移等里程碑对于星舰未来的任务至关重要。备受瞩目的任务将要求航天器在前往月球和火星等目的地之前在轨道上加油。

The first astronaut landing under the Artemis program is tentatively slated for September 2026. Much depends on the eventual success of Starship, with its developmental progress being closely watched by various space industry stakeholders and competitors alike.

阿尔忒弥斯计划下的第一位宇航员着陆时间暂定于 2026 年 9 月。这在很大程度上取决于“星际飞船”的最终成功，其开发进展受到各个航天行业利益相关者和竞争对手的密切关注。